Involved In The Bribery Case For KPK Investigators, Azis Syamsuddin Is Considered To Have To Resign From His Position As Deputy Chairman Of The Indonesian Parliament

Deputy Chairman of the DPR Azis Syamsuddin. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, is considered to have resigned from his position. This is because his name was caught up in the alleged bribery for the termination of the Tanjungbalai Mayor's case which made a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Stepanus Robin Pattuju a suspect.

"Ideally, with the description of involvement as described by the Chairman of the KPK (Firli Bahuri), I think Azis (Azis Syamsuddin) should indeed resign from his position as chairman of the DPR," said researcher Lucius Karus, researcher of the Indonesian Parliament Concern Community Forum (Formappi) in an online discussion quoted Sunday, May 2.

He said, this Golkar Party politician should be relieved to resign from his position. However, he is sure that this will not be done.

This conviction emerged from a number of cases that ensnared public officials. Lucius said, it was rare for a public official to submit his resignation if his status was still suspected of committing irregularities.

"Be gentler, if the decision to resign arises from Azis' own awareness. But it is very rare in Indonesia to have an official resign if he is suspected of committing irregularities," he said.

For this reason, Lucius provided a number of ways for Azis to resign from his post as Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI. First, through the Golkar Party's policy of asking Azis to resign. It is known that Azis is the Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party.

He said that the Azis case would also affect the party's image a little. Therefore, the Golkar Party must immediately take initiative steps.

"If they want it to be quick, the Golkar Party could ask Azis to resign. This is so that Golkar's image will not be affected by the case that Azis is facing," said Lucius.

Second, the DPR RI Council of Honor Court (MKD) must immediately process Azis's actions. Lucius said, the MKD DPR RI has the authority to ask the parliamentary leadership to resign, this had happened when the Chairman of the DPR RI, Setya Novanto, was involved in a corruption case.

"Therefore, I think the most likely chance to ensure that Azis is dismissed from his post as Deputy Speaker of the DPR is through the ethical investigation at the MKD," he said.

Even so, Lucius did not deny that the DPR RI MKD was vulnerable to being manipulated and intervened, especially as the case that occurred dragged the name of one of the DPR RI leaders. This is because the MKD DPR RI which contains representatives from 9 factions has the potential to turn Azis' case into a political transaction.

- https://voi.id/berita/48448/sudah-dicegah-ke-luar-negeri-kpk-pastian-p Call-azis-syamsuddin-terkait-dugaan-suap-penyidik-kpk

- https://voi.id/berita/48163/kemenkumham-azis-syamsuddin-dicegah-ke-luar-negeri-sejak-27-april

- https://voi.id/berita/48299/mkd-gelar-rapat-etik-bahas-l]-azis-syamsuddin-pastian-tak-intervensi-kpk

- https://voi.id/berita/48412/kpk-periksa-azis-syamsuddin-dugaan-suap-akp-stepanus-kapan-w Waktu

- https://voi.id/berita/48175/terseret-kasus-suap-penyidik-kpk-azis-syamsuddin-punya-harta-rp96-5-miliar

- https://voi.id/berita/48080/kpk-tentuk-dokumen-perbank-barang-elektronik-usai-geledah-2-lokasi-kasus-markus-stepanus

Therefore, apart from urging the MKD to quickly process Azis's alleged ethical violations, it is equally important to ensure that the investigation and trial process at the MKD for this case is carried out openly.

"A closed session will only be a space for evil consensus to melt fellow members of the DPR. So, just like in the previous Ethical Trials, MKD must always hold meetings openly," said Lucius.

"What is clear is that the information regarding Azis 'alleged violation is clear. So there is no reason for MKD to take a long time to investigate and decide on Azis' case," he added.

Previously reported, the KPK appointed its investigator, Stepanus Robin Pattuju, a lawyer named Maskur Husain and the Mayor of Tanjungbalai M. Syahrial as suspects in the alleged bribery case in the handling of the sale and purchase of positions at the Tanjungbalai City Government.

Azis Syamsuddin played a role in the collusion at the beginning of the case. Azis introduced Stepanus and M Syahrial at his official residence. This Golkar Party politician is thought to know Stepanus from his aide who is both from the Bhayangkara Corps.

Stepanus Robin Pattuju and Maskur Husain are suspected of having received a bribe from M. Syahrial amounting to Rp1.3 billion from a deal of Rp1.5 billion. The bribe was given so that Stepanus would help stop the investigation into the alleged sale and purchase of positions in Tanjungbalai that the KPK is currently investigating.

Apart from the bribe from Syahrial, Maskur Husain is also suspected of receiving Rp 200 million from another party. Meanwhile, Stepanus from October 2020 to April 2021 is also suspected of receiving money from other parties through bank transfer in the name of Riefka Amalia, amounting to IDR 438 million.